Fiber composite laying device and fiber composite laying method for producing a fiber composite scrim for forming a fiber composite component

ABSTRACT

A fiber composite laying method for producing a fiber composite scrim for forming a fiber composite component. The method includes supplying a reinforcement fiber band to a laying head, laying and compacting the supplied reinforcement fiber band on a laying surface at an average compaction pressure by a compaction roller, and detecting a local compaction pressure on the laid reinforcement fiber band by pressure sensors on the compaction roller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/033,300 filed Jul. 12, 2018, and which claims priority to Germanpatent application DE 10 2017 212 068.1 filed Jul. 14, 2017, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure herein relates to a fiber composite laying device forproducing a fiber composite scrim for forming a fiber compositecomponent, and to a fiber composite laying method for a fiber compositelaying device of this kind.

Although the disclosure herein can be used to produce a wide range offiber composite scrims and fiber composite components in variousapplications, the disclosure herein and the problems on which it isbased are described in greater detail in relation to the production ofaircraft structures. However, the described method and devices may alsobe used in all fields of the transport industry, for example formotorised road vehicles, rail vehicles, aircraft or watercraft, but alsoin general in engineering and mechanical engineering.

BACKGROUND

In modern aircraft construction, supporting or structurally reinforcingcomponents are increasingly being made of fiber composite materials suchas carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics material (CFRP). Producingstructural components of this kind having large dimensions, such asstringers, formers or the like, from composite materials can be achallenge in view of the complex geometries. Fully automatedmanufacturing processes for composite components of this kind, such asautomated fiber placement (AFP) or automated tape laying (ATL), arewidely used. In the processes, reinforcement fibers are laid as bands,with or without a material matrix, for example a synthetic resin, alonga predetermined path on a tool surface using pressure and heat, by alaying head which may be robotically guided. A device of this type isdisclosed for example in EP 2 036 702 B1. Typically, a laying head ofthis type comprises a compaction roller, by which the fibers or fibercomposite bands are unrolled continuously onto a laying surface whilstapplying pressure and heat, and optionally cut to length atpredetermined end points using a cutting tool. The fiber composite bandsmay be laid in the laying surface so as to be straight or curved, thefibers or bands being oriented by the pressure of the compaction rollerand the material tension.

In typical methods, the quality of the continuously shaped fibercomposite scrim or fiber composite component is improved by the layingmethod being repeatedly interrupted from time to time for anintermediate compaction. For example, air inclusions in a scrim can beprevented by the completely draped layers being packed into a vacuum bagand drawn into their correct shape under pressure. Advanced methodsfurther provide for a contact pressure of the compaction roller to bemeasured and/or adjusted; see e.g. DE 10 2015 215 936 A1. For thepurpose of quality assurance, an optical detector system arranged on thelaying head is sometimes proposed, which system detects any layingerrors in a contactless manner or checks that the predeterminedrequirements are satisfied. DE 10 2015 008 313 A1 thus discloses alaying roller which comprises a radiation source and/or at least onesensor and is, at least in regions, transparent to radiation emitted bya radiation source.

SUMMARY

Against this background, it is an idea of the disclosure herein to findimproved solutions for automatically laying reinforcement fibers.

A fiber composite laying device for producing a fiber composite scrimfor forming a fiber composite component is thus provided. The fibercomposite laying device comprises a laying head which is designed orconfigured to continuously supply a reinforcement fiber band. The fibercomposite laying device further comprises a compaction roller which isdesigned or configured to receive the supplied reinforcement fiber band,lay the band on a laying surface and press the band onto the layingsurface at an average compaction pressure. The fiber composite layingdevice further comprises a plurality of pressure sensors which arearranged on the compaction roller and are designed or configured todetect a local compaction pressure on the laid reinforcement fiber band.

A fiber composite laying method for producing a fiber composite scrimfor forming a fiber composite component is further provided. The fibercomposite laying method comprises supplying a reinforcement fiber bandto a laying head. The fiber composite laying method further compriseslaying and compacting the supplied reinforcement fiber band on a layingsurface at an average compaction pressure by a compaction roller. Thefiber composite laying method further comprises detecting a localcompaction pressure on the laid reinforcement fiber band by a pluralityof pressure sensors on the compaction roller.

A concept underlying the disclosure herein consists of or compriseslocally measuring the compaction pressure, i.e. the contact pressure onthe reinforcement fiber band and the laying surface, in order to obtainmore precise information about the compaction, in particular about thecurrent behaviour of the pressurized reinforcement fiber band. For thispurpose, the local compaction pressure can be detected in particularcontinuously and in real time. For example, an inhomogeneous and/oranisotropic pressure distribution can occur in the reinforcement fiberband, since the surface of the fibers or of the reinforcement fiber bandis typically not completely flat under realistic conditions. Inaddition, air inclusions or material properties such as porosity, etc.,may influence the pressure distribution. In such cases, locallydetecting the compaction pressure gives the option of monitoring thepressure conditions in real time and thus anticipating and/or preventinglaying errors and/or laying inaccuracies. In addition, the detected datamay be compiled and evaluated in order to develop optimisation optionsfor the automated manufacture of fiber composite components, for exampleby advanced digital analysis methods. Since compaction is an importantstep in manufacturing fiber composite components, compaction that is asprecise as possible is a key feature of a high-quality product. As aresult, costs can ultimately be saved and the general manufacturingquality improved. For example, the disclosure herein makes it possibleto prevent or at least significantly limit time-consuming and laboriousintermediate compaction steps. In contrast to the disclosure herein, thecompaction pressure in conventional methods is measured either not atall or only for installation and/or maintenance purposes. At best, it isknown to detect and/or adjust the compaction pressure “globally” for thecompaction roller per se. In contrast, however, the solution accordingto the disclosure herein provides for “local” detection of thecompaction pressure. In principle, the disclosure herein provides aplurality of pressure sensors for this purpose. For example, in certainembodiments, even a small number of pressure sensors may suffice, forexample less than 10. In principle, however, a very large number ofpressure sensors may just as well be provided, for example 100 or morethan 1000.

The fiber composite laying device can be integrated in an AFP device, anATL device or the like, for example an AFP or ATL laying head. Inprinciple, it is also conceivable to retrofit existing AFP or ATLdevices by incorporating a correspondingly equipped compaction roller.

Reinforcement fiber bands can be planar bands or band-shapedarrangements of fibers which can optionally be embedded in an associatedcomposite material, i.e. a matrix material. For example, a reinforcementfiber band within the meaning of the disclosure herein may be a prepreg,in other words a textile semi-finished product pre-impregnated withresin. Alternatively, however, the disclosure herein also providesreinforcement fiber bands having dry fibers (dry fiber placement), inwhich a composite material, for example a thermoplastic, integrated inthe fibers is only subsequently liquefied under the effect of heat toconnect the fibers. Reinforcement fiber bands according to thedisclosure herein also include in particular strips, sheets, tows, tapes(which may in turn consist of one or more tows arranged side by side) orsimilar band-like arrangements of fibers. For example, the bands may beplastics bands which are penetrated by carbon fibers in a longitudinaldirection. The fibers contained may be in the form of a pureunidirectional layer, but also in principle in the form of a wovenfabric or scrim or the like.

According to one development, the compaction roller can be designed orconfigured to adjust the average compaction pressure on the basis of thedetected local compaction pressure. Accordingly, the fiber compositelaying method can comprise adjusting the average compaction pressure ofthe compaction roller on the basis of the detected local compactionpressure. In this development, precise knowledge of the local pressureratios can thus be used to adjust the compaction pressure of thecompaction roller accordingly. The compaction pressure can be increased,for example, if it is determined that the compaction pressure locallyfalls below a predetermined threshold, for example owing to airinclusions or similar effects.

According to one development, a plurality of actuators may be provided.The actuators can be arranged on the compaction roller and can bedesigned or configured to adjust the local compaction pressure on thebasis of the detected local compaction pressure. Accordingly, the fibercomposite laying method can comprise adjusting the local compactionpressure on the basis of the detected local compaction pressure by aplurality of actuators on the compaction roller. In this development,the compaction pressure is not only locally detected and optionallyevaluated, but the pressure is additionally directly and immediatelylocally (re)adjusted in order to thus achieve optimum control via thecurrent pressure ratios in the laid reinforcement fiber band. Forexample, a very fast (virtually instantaneous) control loop can beimplemented so that an actuator can be activated depending on theresults of the associated pressure sensor(s).

According to one development, at least some of the pressure sensors canbe designed or configured to be actuators. Units made of sensors andactuators can thus be provided which combine as it were the propertiesof a pressure sensor and the properties of an actuator. For example, anelement of this kind can be produced on the basis of piezoelectrictransducers. In principle, it is also possible to integrate additionalfunctions, for example heating.

According to one development, the pressure sensors can be designed orconfigured to be at least one sensor array along a compaction surface ofthe compaction roller. For example, a plurality of sensor arrays of thiskind can be arranged around the compaction roller in the circumferentialdirection, for example each sensor array can be oriented in thelongitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction of the axis of rotation,of the compaction roller and comprise a plurality of pressure sensors,for example 10, 100 or more pressure sensors. Arrays of pressure sensorscan be produced using microtechnology methods. In this case, parallelprocessing methods can be used, as a result of which many sensors perunit area may be cost-effectively incorporated and controlled or readout, without resulting in a high data density. In addition, a very largenumber of pressure sensors has the advantage that, when a single sensorfails, the system does not need to be declared defective, but ratheronly the signals from the neighbouring sensors can be evaluated, withoutsuffering significant losses in the quality of the pressure measurement.

According to one development, the pressure sensors can be designed orconfigured to substantially cover the entire compaction surface of thecompaction roller. In principle, it is thus also provided to cover alarge portion of the compaction surface or even virtually the entirecompaction surface with pressure sensors and thus effectively achievealmost continuous detection of the local compaction pressure.

According to one development, the pressure sensors can have apressure-sensitive flexible diaphragm. A diaphragm of this kind isdeflected or bent under pressure, the deflection being relative to theamount of pressure. The deflection of the diaphragm can be measuredelectrically, for example, by piezo resistors or piezo sensors placed onand/or in the diaphragm, for example. The deflection can also bedetermined by measuring an electrical change in capacitance between thediaphragm and a corresponding electrode. For this purpose, the diaphragmor at least the surface of the diaphragm may be electrically conductive.

According to one development, the pressure sensors can be designed orconfigured to be piezoelectric elements. The pressure sensors cangenerally be manufactured from a material which has a pressure-dependentelectrical resistance or another pressure-dependent characteristic.

According to one development, the pressure sensors can be embedded in aprotective layer on the compaction roller. A protective layer of thiskind may be made of PMMA (acrylic glass), for example. In an alternativeembodiment, a protective layer for protection against contamination orcorresponding materials known to a person skilled in the art may bemanufactured from FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), it beingpossible to insert the pressure sensors into a protective layer of thiskind. However, the pressure sensors can also be arranged in a film orthe like, in particular a flexible substrate or a flexible plate whichis applied around the compaction roller and thus forms the compactionsurface. Accordingly, metal conductive tracks in the flexible substratecan provide the electrical connections between the pressure sensors oractuators and the additional electronic system of the fiber compositelaying device, and therefore conventional wire connections or the likecan be completely avoided. In one development, the compaction roller canbe electrically coupled to a stationary portion of the fiber compositelaying device via a slip ring arrangement or the like. Alternatively oradditionally, a wireless data and/or energy connection can also beprovided. For example, the electronic components of the flexible circuitboard comprising the pressure sensors and/or actuators may be designedfor wireless data communication. For example, individual pressuresensors and/or actuators can provide a passive or active wirelessinterface, for example passively as a piezoelectric transducer orsensor, via surface acoustic waves (SAW) or via Lamb waves as a flexuralplate wave (FPW) sensor the like, or actively as an integrated antennaor similar device.

According to one development, the fiber composite laying device canfurther comprise a radiation source which is designed or configured toirradiate the laid reinforcement fiber band at least in regions. Thefiber composite laying device can further comprise a radiation sensorwhich is designed or configured to detect reflection radiation reflectedby the laid reinforcement fiber band. The fiber composite laying devicecan further comprise an evaluation unit which is designed or configuredto evaluate the detected reflection radiation in order to establishlaying errors. The compaction roller can be designed, at least inregions, to be transparent to radiation emitted by the radiation source.Accordingly, the fiber composite laying method can comprise irradiatingthe laid reinforcement fiber band, at least in regions, by a radiationsource. The fiber composite laying method can further comprise detectingreflection radiation reflected by the laid reinforcement fiber band by aradiation sensor. The fiber composite laying method can further compriseevaluating the detected reflection radiation by an evaluation unit inorder to establish laying errors. The radiation source can emitelectromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range of between 200 nm and 1mm and be designed as a light-emitting diode, laser diode or laser, forexample. As a result, the surface of the laid reinforcement fiber bandscan be sampled using radiation of which the wavelength is best suitedfor detecting laying errors. In this case, the wavelength of theradiation emitted by the radiation source is between far infrared andfar ultraviolet. The at least one radiation source can emit radiation orlight in a wavelength range that is visible to the human eye. In turn,the radiation sensor can be, for example, a corresponding camera forgenerating image data, which is designed or configured to record thecorresponding radiation. Alternatively or additionally, a correspondingsensitive sensor array may be provided. When a laying error or the likeoccurs, signaling can thus be carried out by the evaluation unit and/orthe laying of the reinforcement fiber bands can be interrupted, forexample. As a result, a largely automatic evaluation and identificationof laying errors is possible. The evaluation unit may be produced forexample so as to have a digital computer, a PC, a FPGA, amicrocontroller, a neural network implemented on a suitable hardwareplatform by a software algorithm, or the like. On the basis of themeasurement data generated by the at least one radiation sensor, theevaluation unit detects any laying errors using suitable algorithms anddisplays the data online or offline in a manner suitable for a user. Forexample, both the radiation source and the radiation sensor can beintegrated in the compaction roller, for example can be arranged insidethe compaction roller. As a result, a fully automated detection oflaying errors is possible as early as during the laying process, andtherefore there is no need for a visual inspection, which wouldotherwise need to be carried out after laying a layer of reinforcementfiber bands. Owing to the direct integration of the measurement systemconsisting of the radiation source and the radiation sensor in thecompaction roller, the movement space of the laying head is virtuallyunimpeded. In addition, owing to the immediate proximity of themeasurement system to the current laying position, a considerableincrease in quality can be achieved in the detection of laying errors.If the installation space inside the compaction roller is limited, theradiation sensor and/or the radiation source can be positioned outsidethe compaction roller. If the radiation source is arranged outside thecompaction roller, the radiation can be coupled into the compactionroller by a radiation conductor, for example. Furthermore, the reflectedradiation can also be coupled out of the compaction roller and suppliedto a radiation sensor arranged outside the compaction roller by aradiation conductor.

According to one development, at least some of the pressure sensors canbe designed or configured to be transparent to radiation emitted by theradiation source. For example, pressure sensors can comprise apressure-sensitive flexible diaphragm, the deflection of which insidethe compaction roller can be measured optically. Such aradiation-transparent design of the pressure sensors is in particularadvantageous if a large number of pressure sensors covers a significantportion of the compaction surface. For example, a diaphragm of this kindcan be manufactured from a transparent silicon or a polymer.Accordingly, transparent electrodes and metal layers can be used, forexample based on conductive polymers or transparent semiconductors, forexample indium tin oxide or similar materials, inter alia those knownfrom photovoltaics. From the present teaching, a person skilled in theart would derive corresponding materials and measures as to howtransparent sensor and/or actuator designs of this kind can be achieved.

The above-mentioned embodiments and developments can be combined in anymanner, if appropriate. Further possible embodiments, developments andimplementations of the disclosure herein include combinations offeatures of the disclosure herein described previously or below withrespect to the embodiments, even if not explicitly specified. Inparticular, a person skilled in the art will also add individual aspectsas improvements or supplements to the particular basic form of thedisclosure herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure herein will be described in greater detail below withreference to the example embodiments shown in the example, schematicdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fiber composite laying device comprisinga compaction roller according to one embodiment of the disclosureherein;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the compaction roller from FIG.1; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic flow chart of a fiber composite laying methodfor the fiber composite laying device from FIG. 1.

The accompanying drawings are intended to facilitate furtherunderstanding of the embodiments of the disclosure herein. The drawingsillustrate embodiments and, together with the description, are used toexplain principles and concepts of the disclosure herein. Otherembodiments and many of the advantages mentioned can be found withreference to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are notnecessarily shown true to scale relative to one another.

In the figures of the drawings, identical, functionally identical andidentically operating elements, features and components are in each caseprovided with the same reference signs, unless indicated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fiber composite laying device 1comprising a compaction roller 4 according to one embodiment of thedisclosure herein. The compaction roller 4 is also shown in FIG. 2 in aschematic sectional view. A schematic flow chart of a correspondingfiber composite laying method M for the fiber composite laying device 1from FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 3.

The fiber composite laying device 1 is designed or configured to producea fiber composite scrim for forming a fiber composite component. In FIG.1, a single laid reinforcement fiber band 2 is shown merelyschematically. It will be clear to a person skilled in the art thatoptionally more complex fiber composite scrims may also accordingly beformed by consecutively laying reinforcement fiber bands 2 of this kind,which, after a corresponding deformation and/or curing process, resultin a fiber composite component. For this purpose, the fiber compositescrim can consist of or comprise a plurality of reinforcement fiberbands 2, which in turn may comprise a plurality of reinforcement fiberswith or without matrix material. Carbon-fiber-reinforced bands or CFRPtows can be used as the reinforcement fiber bands 2. The reinforcementfiber bands 2 can be pre-impregnated dry or, at least in portions, witha suitable plastics material or corresponding matrix material. Forexample, the reinforcement fiber band 2 may be a fiber composite towpre-impregnated with plastics resin and having a laying width of fromseveral millimetres to centimetres, or the like. Laying reinforcementfiber bands of this kind can for example be a first method step inproducing a three-dimensionally curved annular former or a straightstringer. Laying can be flat in a planar arrangement or can take placealong a three-dimensional curved surface, for example.

For successive laying, in layers, of the reinforcement fiber bands 2 ona laying surface 5, the fiber composite laying device 1 comprises alaying head 3 which is designed or configured to continuously supply areinforcement fiber band 2. The laying head 3 can be freely positionedin relation to the laying surface 5 by a handling apparatus (not shown),in particular a standard industrial robot having multiple degrees offreedom. The laying surface 5 may have a surface geometry which differsfrom the planar shape shown here merely by way of example, for example,any two-dimensionally curved surface geometry or a surface geometrywhich is curved in a convex or concave manner at least in regions. Inprinciple, the laying head 3 can be moved spatially freely in relationto the laying surface 5 in an automated manner on any straight or curvedtracks.

The compaction roller 4 is designed or configured to receive thesupplied reinforcement fiber band 2, lay the band on the laying surface5 and press the band onto the laying surface 5 at an average compactionpressure. In this case, an average compaction pressure is understood tomean that the compaction roller 4 is pressed onto the laying surface 5or onto the reinforcement fiber band 2 or fiber composite scrim alreadylaid on the laying surface 5 at a particular compaction pressure. In anidealised case of a perfectly planar reinforcement fiber band 2 and aperfectly planar laying surface 5, the compaction roller 4 would compactall of the pressed regions at the same specific compaction pressure. Ina realistic case, however, all of the components have correspondingirregularities, and therefore only an average compaction pressure can bespecified directly by the compaction roller 4. However, the compactionpressure can vary locally in the reinforcement fiber band 2 to a greateror lesser extent, for example owing to air inclusions in the alreadylaid reinforcement fiber band 2 or other influences.

In order to take these local deviations into consideration, the fibercomposite laying device 1 provides a plurality of pressure sensors 6which are arranged on the compaction roller 4 and are designed orconfigured to detect the local compaction pressure on the laidreinforcement fiber band 2. This makes it possible to detect thespecific pressure conditions in real time and thus to anticipate and/orto prevent laying errors and/or laying inaccuracies. The automatedmanufacture of fiber composite components can be improved by the databeing compiled and evaluated and, building thereon, optimisation optionsbeing developed, i.e. being able to use advanced digital analysismethods in order to obtain an improved understanding of the layingprocess and thus ensuring increased quality control.

In this exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensors 6 are arranged in aplurality of sensor arrays 8 along a compaction surface 13 of thecompaction roller 4. Each of these sensor arrays 8 comprises a pluralityof pressure sensors 6 and is oriented in the longitudinal direction,i.e. in the direction of the axis of rotation, of the compaction roller(cf. the arrow in FIG. 1 which indicates the direction of rotation ofthe compaction roller). The pressure sensors 6 are embedded in thecompaction surface 13 in a protective layer 9 of the compaction roller4. Each pressure sensor 6 comprises a flexible pressure-sensitivediaphragm (not indicated), the deflection of which under pressure isdetermined by a piezoelectric element provided in each pressure sensor6, from which in turn the local compaction pressure prevailing at thisspecific pressure sensor 6 can be deduced. In this advantageousembodiment of the disclosure herein, each pressure sensor 6 is furtherdesigned as an actuator 7, in order to be able to not only detect thelocal compaction pressure, but optionally also to immediately adjust thecompaction pressure. This means that not only can the average compactionpressure of the compaction roller 4 be “globally” adjusted on the basisof the detected data, but rather the compaction pressure can also bemodified locally and in a dedicated manner as required, in particular inreal time. This introduces the additional significant advantage of theshown fiber composite laying device 1, whereby potential errors orinaccuracies in laying the reinforcement fiber band 2 are not onlydetected, but can be immediately counteracted in order to minimize theerrors or inaccuracies as much as possible or even completely preventthem.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the pressure sensors 6 are designedas actuators 7. However, it would be immediately clear to a personskilled in the art that separate sensor and actuator elements can alsobe provided on the compaction surface 13 of the compaction roller 4. Theprotective layer 9 may be made of acrylic glass or of a plasticsmaterial, for example. However, in a particularly advantageousembodiment, the protective layer may be provided in particular as aflexible circuit board which is applied around the compaction roller 4and in which the pressure sensors 6 or actuators 7 are electricallyintegrated. A person skilled in the art will provide correspondingelectrical connections between the individual components within thecompaction surface 13 of the compaction roller 4, for example on thebasis of printed conductor tracks or the like. In addition, depending onthe application, the electronic components of the flexible circuit boardcomprising the pressure sensors 6 and/or actuators 7 may be designed foractive or passive wireless data communication, for example aspiezoelectric transducers or the like.

In the embodiment shown, the fiber composite laying device 1 furthercomprises a radiation source 10, a radiation sensor 11 and an evaluationunit 12 coupled to the radiation sensor 11 and/or the radiation source10. The radiation source 10 is designed or configured to irradiate thelaid reinforcement fiber band 2, at least in regions, withelectromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the visual spectrum. Theradiation sensor 11 is designed, as an electronic camera, to detectreflection radiation reflected by the laid reinforcement fiber band 2,which radiation can occur as diffuse and/or direct reflection radiationof the irradiated radiation. The evaluation unit 12 is in turn designedor configured to evaluate the detected reflection radiation in order toestablish laying errors. In this embodiment, the compaction roller 4 isdesigned so as to have an optically transparent material. In particular,the pressure sensors 6 or actuators 7 are also designed or configured tobe optically transparent. For this purpose, the sensors or actuators, orthe flexible protective layer 9, are manufactured completely or at leastmostly from optically transparent materials. For this purpose, both theradiation sensor 11 and the radiation source 10 are arranged inside thecompaction roller 4 in the region of the axis of rotation. In this case,the compaction surface 13 of the compaction roller 4 acts to a certainextent as a window, in order to convey the radiation from the radiationsource 10 to the laid reinforcement fiber band 2 and to allow thereflected back radiation through, such that the back radiation can bereceived by the radiation sensor 11.

The radiation source 10 can be fitted with a light-emitting diode, alaser diode, a laser or another compact lighting. The radiation sensor11 can be produced so as to have an electronic camera (CCD camera) or atwo-dimensional sensor array, for example. The radiation source 10and/or the radiation sensor 11 are actuated by the evaluation unit 12via a cable or wirelessly. Exactly like the pressure sensors 6, theradiation sensor 11 generates measurement data which are supplied to theevaluation unit 12 for detailed evaluation and analysis. A data cablefor the radiation sensor 11 is indicated merely by way of example, butthe pressure sensors 6 can also be connected to the evaluation unit 12via a cable and/or wirelessly. The evaluation unit 12 can thus also bedesigned or configured to detect and analyze the average compactionpressure and/or the local compaction pressure. The reflection radiationreflected by the reinforcement fiber band 2, in conjunction with theevaluation unit 12, allows very reliable and detailed detection and typedifferentiation of any occurring laying errors. For this purpose, aplurality of suitable analysis methods or algorithms are stored in theevaluation unit 12. The evaluation unit 12 can be implemented so as tohave a universal, digital computing unit, in particular a PC, apre-programmed FPGA, a microcontroller, a digitally simulated neuralnetwork or the like. If a laying error is detected, a correspondingnotification can be given to a user, for example by an optical and/oracoustic signaling device(s) assigned to the evaluation unit 12, and/orthe entire laying process can be automatically interrupted or completelystopped without needing additional external intervention. In principle,however, the average and/or local compaction pressure of the compactionroller 4 can alternatively or additionally be adjusted in order toimmediately counteract corresponding defects.

The fiber composite laying method M in FIG. 3 correspondingly comprisesthe steps of: supplying the reinforcement fiber band 2 to the layinghead 3 (M1); laying and compacting the supplied reinforcement fiber band2 on the laying surface 5 at an average compaction pressure by thecompaction roller 4 (M2); and detecting the local compaction pressure onthe laid reinforcement fiber band 2 by the plurality of pressure sensors6 on the compaction roller 4 (M3). The fiber composite laying method Mfurther comprises adjusting the average compaction pressure of thecompaction roller 4 on the basis of the detected local compactionpressure (M4) and/or adjusting the local compaction pressure by theplurality of actuators 7 on the compaction roller 4 on the basis of thedetected local compaction pressure (M4′). The fiber composite layingmethod M further comprises, in steps M5 to M7, irradiating the laidreinforcement fiber band, in regions, by the radiation source 10,detecting reflection radiation reflected by the laid reinforcement fiberband 2 by the radiation sensor 11 and evaluating the detected reflectionradiation by the evaluation unit 12 in order to establish laying errors.It is self-evident that the individual steps of the method can beimplemented any number of times and in different sequences.

In the detailed description above, various features have been summarisedin one or more examples so as to provide a more cogent representation.However, it should be clear here that the above description is of apurely illustrative, but in no way limiting nature. The descriptionserves to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of thevarious features and embodiments. Many other examples will becomeimmediately clear to a person skilled in the art owing to their expertknowledge in view of the above description.

While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) isdisclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications,substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skillin the art and can be made without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations orvariations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in thisdisclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude otherelements or steps, the terms “a”, “an” or “one” do not exclude a pluralnumber, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore,characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used incombination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unlessthe disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure herebyincorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent orapplication from which it claims benefit or priority.

1. A fiber composite laying method for producing a fiber composite scrimfor forming a fiber composite component, the method comprising:supplying a reinforcement fiber band to a laying head; laying andcompacting the supplied reinforcement fiber band on a laying surface atan average compaction pressure by a compaction roller; and detecting alocal compaction pressure on the laid reinforcement fiber band by aplurality of pressure sensors on the compaction roller.
 2. The fibercomposite laying method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting theaverage compaction pressure of the compaction roller on a basis of thedetected local compaction pressure.
 3. The fiber composite laying methodof claim 1, further comprising adjusting the local compaction pressureby a plurality of actuators on the compaction roller on a basis of thedetected local compaction pressure.
 4. The fiber composite laying methodof claim 1, further comprising: irradiating the laid reinforcement fiberband, at least in regions, by a radiation source; detecting reflectionradiation reflected by the laid reinforcement fiber band by a radiationsensor; and evaluating the detected reflection radiation by anevaluation unit to establish laying errors.